Tag: counselling

  • Reasons to Use Kids Help Phone

    Reasons to Use Kids Help Phone

    Kids Help Phone is a free, anonymous resource that is there for you 24/7. Its purpose is to give young people someone to talk to when they feel they have no one who will listen to them. It is important to know that there are people who care and want to help you with any problems you may have. Kids Help Phone has many uses – here are just a few.

    1) You need an objective opinion or want to ask questions anonymously.
    If you need to talk with someone who will listen to what you’re going through, and you don’t trust or want to speak to friends or family, then the Kids Help Phone is a great resource for you. Sometimes you don’t want the people closest to you to know what it is that you are feeling or thinking about. It may be because of a fear of losing their respect or simply of changing the image that they have of you. Whatever your reason, speaking with someone who is trained and knowledgeable on how to handle the information you will share with them is often a good option. When you call the Kids Help Phone you can rest assured that the information will remain confidential, unless it involves information that must be reported to the police (such as reporting a threat to your own or someone else’s life).

    2) You are undergoing a traumatic period in your life and would like support.
    Sometimes we suffer because of life’s circumstances, and in this case it is really important to talk with people about what you are going through. You may not want to talk with friends or family because you feel they may not understand, but with Kids Help Phone you can talk to a person who has been trained in dealing with emotional crises. They will be able to talk to you about relationships, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders or anything else that you feel is affecting you.

    3) You want to speak with someone who will listen to you.
    Often in the hussle and bustle of everyday life, there is so much going on that we can feel ignored or that we don’t matter. It can be very hard to find someone who will just listen to what it is that you are going through. The time rarely comes up where you feel it is okay to pour out your soul, and because of this you can be left with some important issues bubbling just under the surface. It is important to “vent” and to talk about your life and what sorts of challenges you are facing.

    4) You need to report an incident.
    If you don’t feel comfortable speaking directly to the police or don’t know what to do after an incident, the people at Kids Help Phone will listen and help you to deal with the situation. This can range from bullying, an incident of physical or sexual abuse or a crime like theft.

    5) You are in a crisis and need to talk to someone as soon as possible.
    If you are feeling that you are in a crisis and are having thoughts of suicide, a counsellor at the Kids Help Phone will be a great person for you to speak with. They can help to “talk out” your problem and ensure that you get the assistance you require. Remember that you are never alone! Suicide is not the answer. Reach out to someone at Kids Help Phone and they will be there for you when you feel no one else is.

  • Do You Really Need a Career Guidance Counsellor?

    Do You Really Need a Career Guidance Counsellor?

    When you think about it, it’s pretty crazy. You’re young, you’re either still in school or freshly graduated, you’ve likely never had more than a part-time job while in school, and yet you’re expected to decide on what you want to do for the rest of your life! Okay, before you hit the panic button, take a deep breath, relax and seek out a career guidance counsellor.

    Even if you have a reasonably good idea about what you want to do, it is worth spending time with a counsellor just to get an objective, non-biased opinion. Talking to friends and family is fine, but they can often give advice or opinions that leave you feeling even more confused than before!

    If you are still in school, it is safe to say that you are probably aware of your school’s guidance counsellor. Most schools have them, whether they’re a permanent staff member or one who comes in once or twice a week. Their job is to help you navigate the confusing and sometimes downright frustrating work of choosing your direction in life. Unless you already know your counsellor reasonably well, which is more likely if they are a permanent staff member, your first couple of sessions may be more of a ‘getting to know you’ meeting. The counsellor is specially trained to ask specific questions to get an idea of the direction you may want to go in and also if your personality is suited to that field. You may think you want to be in the nursing profession, for example, but are you strong enough to deal with the often emotionally draining (not to mention physically demanding) shifts that the job requires? In addition to being asked to complete aptitude, skill and even IQ tests, being open and honest with a counsellor and knowing the right questions to ask will help them understand exactly what areas they need to concentrate on during each session.

    If your assigned school counsellor is not quite the right fit (feeling at ease with any type of counsellor is essential) or if you are out of the school system, it will be necessary to seek out independent help. There are many available sources, but as with any professional service you will need to do some homework first in terms of ensuring the individual, or company they work for, is licensed and reputable. Check all their qualifications and get references that can be verified. Although you will have to pay for an independent service, they will often have additional resources and knowledge that benefits other areas of career guidance. For example, once a clearer idea is established of what you want to do, they can suggest certain training courses or internships that would help you advance in the chosen field. They can also help you compose a great cover letter and resume that will get you noticed and even coach you on acing an interview.

    While you may not end up with a clear cut decision about a lifelong career, by taking full advantage of a career counsellor you will at least be setting off down the right path. The greatest journeys start with a single step!